Month: October 2006

ARMENIAN ALPHABET EXHIBIT AT MONMOUTH UNIVERSITY

Monmouth University News & Events, NJ
Oct 21 2006

Program Celebrates the 1,600th Anniversary of the Armenian Alphabet and
Will Feature Multiple Armenian Alphabet Artifacts Monmouth University,
in conjunction with the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America
(Eastern), will host an Armenian Alphabet Exhibit, November 6 to 9, 11
a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, in historic Wilson Hall, located on the Monmouth
University campus. The program celebrates the 1,600th anniversary
of the Armenian Alphabet and will feature multiple Armenian Alphabet
artifacts. In addition, on November 8 at 7 p.m., Mr. Aram Arkun will
give a keynote address about the history of the Armenian Alphabet in
Wilson Hall Auditorium.

Mr. Arkun, a specialist in Armenian history serves as the coordinator
of the Krikor and Clara Zohrab Information Center of the Diocese of the
Armenian Church of America (Eastern). He is editor of the periodical
Ararat, chairman of the Armenian Student Association Arthur H. Dadian
Armenian Heritage Award committee, and secretary of the board of
directors of the Armenian Center at Columbia University.

Mr. Arkun is a doctoral candidate in Armenian history (C.Phil.) at
UCLA, for which he is completing his dissertation on the Armenians
of northern Cilicia after World War I.

The exhibit and keynote address are free and open to the public.

Local schools and large groups are asked to please contact the
Office of Public Affairs at 732-571-3526 to schedule a time to view
the exhibit.

Media Contact: Val Manzo 732-571-3526/[email protected]

ARMENIAN AND IRANIAN ARMENIAN ARCHITECTS HAVE GOAL TO EXCHANGE EXPERIENCE

TEHRAN, OCTOBER 20, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The "Alik" daily
received on October 18 Chairman of Architects’ Union of Armenia
Mkrtich Minasian and the architect of the Genocide victims memorial
complex in Armenia Sashur Kalashian accompanied by Abraham Ayvazian,
the Chairman of the Union of Armenian Architects and Engineers in
Iran. According to the "Alik" daily, architects arrived in Armenia
visited Iran by the invitation of the Union of Armenian Architects and
Engineers. Mkrtich Minasian mentioned during the meeting that the goal
of the visit is to bring closer the character of the sides’ works,
to pass what happens in Armenia in the sphere of urban development,
what achievements the Armenian architects have in Iran as well as to
direct works in one direction and to closely cooperate.

AMBASSADOR OF KAZAKHSTAN TO TRY TO MAKE ARMENIAN-KAZAKH ECONOMIC CONTACTS MORE ACTIVE

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 20, NOYAN TAPAN. RA President Robert Kocharian
expects activization of Armenian-Kazakh cooperation in connection with
Kazakhstan’s decision to have a representation in Yerevan. R.Kocharian
said this on October 20, at the talk held after the credentials handing
ceremony of newly appointed Ambassador of Kazakhstan to Armenia Aimdos
Ersaini Bozdjigitov. As Noyan Tapan was informed from RA President’s
Press Office, the sides considered R.Kocharian’s official visit
to Kazakhstan in November as an important stimulus for further
extension of interstate relations. The interlocutors mentioned
reforms being implemented at a full speed in the two countries,
by the rate of which Armenia and Kazakhstan are among leaders among
CIS countries. Emphasizing interest of Kazakh businessmen in Armenia,
the Ambassador said that he will first of all try to activize economic
contacts. In his words, the Armenian community of Kazakhstan can be
an important factor in bilateral cooperation, the representatives of
which are actively involved in country’s various spheres.

V.OSKANIAN TOUCHES UPON ROLE AND PROBLEMS OF ARMENIAN DIASPORA AT
TORONTO INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE

TORONTO, OCTOBER 20, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. On October 19,
RA Vartan Oskanian who is in Canada on a working visit, made a speech
at the international conference "Building of Possibilities Aimed at
Peace and Development: the Role of the Diaspora" organized by UN
jointly with the University for Peace in Toronto. NT was informed
about it from RA FM Press Service. Chairman of UN General Assembly
61st session, Sheikha Haya Rashed Al Khalifa made a greeting speech at
the conference. Minister Oskanian presented the Armenian Diaspora’s
experience, spoke about Diasporan structures’ activity in various
countries and problms of its development. Presenting the history of
emergence and formation of the Armenian Diaspora, he touched upon
the problems of Diaspora’s identity. Armenia-Diaspora relations
were also touched upon. In particular, it was mentioned that the
latter’s assistance to Armenia is provided in economic and political
directions: economic assistance through investments, philanthropy and
monetary transfers, political assistance through support in Nagorno
Karabakh settlement, recognition of the Armenian Genocide and in
issues relating to Armenian-Turkish relations. After the conference
Minister Oskanian continued to communicate with the representatives of
Canadian Armenian community. Issues of Armenian villages’ development,
as well as of Armenian community’s and individuals’ participation in
various business projects were discussed at the meetings.

49 ISSUES AND 10 INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS TO BE DISCUSSED AT COMING
NA 4-DAY SESSION

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 20, NOYAN TAPAN. Draft decision on making additions
to the agenda of the 8th session of RA NA of third convocation and
draft agenda of October 23-26 NA four-day session were discussed at the
October 20 working consultation presided over by RA NA Speaker Tigran
Torosian. As NT was informed from NA Public Relations Department, 12
issues were included in the additions part of the session agenda. 49
issues, 10 international agreements are placed on the agenda of NA
coming four-day session. The draft decision on making additions to
the agenda of the 8th session of NA of third convocation and the
draft agenda of October 23-26 NA four-day session will be approved
at the October 23 NA sitting.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

EXHIBITION OF WORKS OF STUDENTS AND GRADUATES OF YEREVAN STATE
UNIVERSITY OF ARCHITECTURE AND CONSTRUCTION OPENS IN YEREVAN

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 20, NOYAN TAPAN. 180 paintings and drawings of
students and graduates of Yerevan State University of Architecture and
Construction were presented at the exhibition that opened on October
20 at Armenian Union of Architects. As professor Henrik Mamian said,
Painting is taught at the University’s Architecture faculty, for art,
drawing and creative abilities to develop among students. In his
words, this exhibition is the first one in the University’s history
and includes works created in the last 20-25 years that had been shown
and were highly estimated in many foreign countries. H.Mamian said
that it is planned to organize such exhibitions every year.

AUTHORITIES OF UKRAINIAN CITY OF SUM ALREADY FOR 5th YEAR PROMISE
ARMENIAN COMMUNITY TO ALLOT TERRITORY FOR CONSTRUCTION OF CHURCH

KRASNODAR, OCTOBER 20, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The "Sumstroi"
OJSC will build a many-storied building in the territory that was
beforehand promised to the Armenian community of the city of Sum for
construction of an Armenian church. According to the "Yerkramas"
(country) newspaper of Armenians of Russia, Mayor Genadi Minayev
promised the Armenian community to find soon an equivalent plot in
the center of the city. This is already not the first attempt of the
Armenian community to get a lot for a church. In words of Slavik
Alexanian, the head of the Armenian community of the city, the
authorities has promised to allot territory for the church since 2001.

GDP GROWS BY 12.5% IN ARMENIA IN JANUARY-SEPTEMBER 2006

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 20, NOYAN TAPAN. In January-September 2006,
Armenia’s GDP made 1 trlillion 720 billion 63 million drams
(about 4 billion USD), exceeding by 12.5% the respective index
of last year. According to the RA National Statistical Service,
GDP index-deflator made 105.1%. The industrial production made 468
bln 10.6 mln drams, declining by 1.6% on the same pertiod of last
year, that without diamond production – 465 bln 902.8 mln drams,
growing by 1.5%. The gross agricultural output made 370 bln 568 mln
drams, remaining unchanged compared with January-September 2005,
and construction volume amounted to 393 bln 803 mln drams, growing
by 39.6%. In January-September 2006, Armenia’s foreign trade made
2 bln 208.2 mln USD or by 12.1% more than in the same period of last
year. The same indices without diamond trade made 1 bln 861 mln USD and
19.5%. Exports made 699.4 mln USD, declining by 0.9%, exports without
diamonds – 522.4 mln USD, growing by 3.4%. Imports made 1 bln 508.7 mln
USD, growing by 19.4%, imports without diamonds – 1 bln 338.6 mln USD,
grwoing by 27.3%. Retail trade amounted to 536 bln 273.5 mln drams, or
by 10.9% more than in the same period of last year, while services –
to 338 bln 472.5 mln drams, or by 22% more. The consumer price index
made up 102% in January-September 2006 on the same months of 2005,
the index of prices of manufacturers’ production – 97.2%. The average
monthly nominal salary in January-September 2006 made 61.320 thousand
drams, growing by 22.1% on the same months of last year.

The same indices with respect to employees of budgetary institutions
made 42.684 thousand drams and 22.6%, with respect to employees of
non-budgetary institutions – 75.074 thousand drams and 20.5%. Monetary
incomes of the population made 1 trillion 142 billion 572.2 million
drams, growing by 19.8%, monetary expenditures – 1 trillion 114
billion 915.6 million drams, growing by 20.3%.

The average exchange rate of the Armenian dram against the US dollar
was 430.04 drams in January-September 2006 compared with 457.69 drams
in January-December of last year.

CRIMINAL CASE AGAINST ROYAL ARMENIA’S MANAGEMENT SENT TO COURT

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 20, NOYAN TAPAN. The preliminary investigation of the
criminal case against the management of Royal Armenia Ltd was completed
and the case has been sent to court. Gevorg Minasian, the company’s
lawyer, said this at the October 20 press conference. To recap, the
case started on March 10, 2005. On the 7th month of the investigation,
the company’s co-owner Gagik Hakobian and deputy director Aram
Ghazarian were arrested. They were accused of smuggling, non-payment
of taxes, document forgery, legalization of financial resources in
an illegal way, and G. Hakobian – also of fraud. During the press
conference, representatives of Royal-Armenia expressed discontent that
by the investigator’s decision, a 38,400-kg and 76,800-kg shipments
of green coffee that the company received from abroad continue to be
under arrest. They are not customs-cleaned, as a result of which 2
trucks and 6 containers of the foreign transporter have been under
"customs arrest" since September 27, 2006, for which Royal-Armenia
will bear property responsibility to the foreign transporter.
"This action with respect to the company is a previously planned
damage which has no bearing to justice and law," the application
sent to the RA president, prime minister and prosecutor general
reads. According to the application, the company was forced to stop
the process of production and to dismiss 48 employees. Representatives
of Royal-Armenia believe that the investigator’s decision and the
inaction of customs employees are not justified.

According to them, Ltd is not a civil defendant in this criminal
case, and as a legal entity and a independent subject of the law
is not responsible for the liabilities of its participants. "Even
if we admit that the Ltd participants committed an offence, it is
not a reason to put an arrest on the raw material imported by the
company," the company representatives stated. According to them,
in such a case sanctions may be used with respect to the defendants’
property and their shares in the company’s capital.

HAYPOST TRUST TO ASSUME MANAGEMENT OF HAYPOST NOT OWNED BY DUTCH
COMPANY ING

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 20, NOYAN TAPAN. Haypost Trust OJSC, which will assume
soon management of Haypost company for 5 years, is owned not by the
Dutch company Ing, as the RA Minister of Transport and Communication
Andranik Manukian stated recently, but by the international investment
company Postfinance. NT correspondent was informed about it from
a reliable source. According to the same source, the preparation
for Haypost’s trust management was done on the advice of Ing. NT
correspondent failed to get any official explanation, as an answering
machine always responds to calls made to the PR Department of the RA
Ministry of Transport and Communication.